Car insurance: What you should know

 Car ownership - as rewarding as it is - also requires an awful lot of adulting on your part. You have to make sure you drive responsibly, stay on a routine car care schedule for your vehicle, make your monthly payments on time, AND ensure that you have car insurance coverage for when you hit the open road. It can be a little overwhelming, and that's why here at Toyota of N Charlotte, we do our best to not only help you through ownership, but also give you the information you need to make educated decisions. Today, we're talking about car insurance. 

Why is car insurance so necessary? 

Car insurance is an absolute necessity when you get behind the wheel. In fact, it's illegal to drive without it and you can find yourself in heaps of trouble if you get caught. Why? Because it covers you in an accident (and in some instances, covers the other driver, too). If you were to get into a car accident without insurance, you would have to pay for all of your auto repairs AND personal medical bills out of pocket. This can lead to incredibly high expenses. On the other hand, your car insurance will cover most of these expenses after a deductible. 

So, what should you expect when it's time to sign up for car insurance (which you should do at your time of purchase or lease)? First, think about your premium and how often you want to pay for it. Most car insurance companies offer monthly, biannual, and annual payment options. If you pay bi-annually or annually, you'll have to pay a larger payment, but you might also be eligible for a discount from the company (so make sure you ask). If you pay monthly, your payments will be smaller and more manageable. 

Toyota of N Charlotte breaks down your policy 

You'll also want to think about your policy and the types of coverage it'll offer. There are several different categories in a car insurance policy, including: 

• Collision, which covers your auto repair bills when you get into a car accident. 
• Personal Injury Protection, which covers your personal medical bills if you get injured in an accident or collision. 
• Bodily Injury and Personal Liability, which covers the auto repairs and medical bills of the OTHER driver in an accident if you're found to be at fault for the accident. 
• Comprehensive, which covers a variety of other things outside the scope of a car accident. This policy includes coverage for things like natural disasters, hit-and-run accidents (where there's no other insurance to pay for things but yours), and in some states, repairing or replacing your car windshield should it break. 

We know it's a lot to think about, but our N Charlotte Toyota dealership is always here to give advice and help you choose the right coverage for your ride. Call us today at (704) 875-9199 or stop by! We're conveniently located just off I-77 at exit 23 in Huntersville at 13429 Statesville Road.